Corners And Joints Patents (Class 296/29)
  • Patent number: 6592170
    Abstract: A bottom rail for a vehicle trailer. The bottom rail includes a floor leg extending parallel to and abutting a floor of the trailer. A cross member cover extends perpendicular from the floor leg. An upstanding member extends perpendicular to the floor leg. The upstanding member terminates in a notch spaced away from the floor leg for receiving a sidewall therein, wherein the upstanding member is thicker than the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6592164
    Abstract: A recessed portion is formed partially in an outer panel. The recessed portion has an inner wall which inclines slightly downwardly toward the inside of a body and an inner-most wall extending vertically. A retaining member is mounted on the inner-most wall. Formed on the retaining member is a locking face confronting the inner wall and a raised portion. A flange portion is provided on a bumper face. The flange portion is formed into a tapered configuration in which the thickness thereof decreases as it extends toward a distal end thereof and has a lock hole formed at a position corresponding to the raised portion. The flange portion is held between the locking face and the inner wall and is locked on the locking face by fitting the raised portion in the lock hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Suiryo Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nagae, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tomoshi Uesaki
  • Patent number: 6582000
    Abstract: A molded product has a main body formed of a monolithic sheet of thermoplastic. The thermoplastic sheet has side and back sections extending horizontally at substantially right angles to one another and define an upright orientation of the molded product. The side and back sections are connected to a central vertical spine between the side and back sections. An intermediate angled section interrupts the vertical spine and located between the side and back sections. Front and rear major surfaces cover the main body. A plurality of apertures through the intermediate angled section connecting the front and rear major surfaces and serve as an integral speaker grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Siler, Robert L. Cochran, Kurt A. Ringger, Michael L. Noll
  • Patent number: 6578909
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a front header, a pillar support member, a side roof rail, and a roof rail outer front member. The front header has a substantially box-shaped cross-section. The pillar support member has an elongated member extending between a windshield opening and a door opening, a short first member at one end of the elongated member extending along the windshield opening, and a short second member at the end extending along the door opening. The first member includes a first edge adjoining an end of the front header. The side roof rail has a substantially box-shaped cross-section and adjoins a second edge of the pillar support second member. The roof rail outer front member is affixed to the pillar support member. The roof rail outer front member adjoins the end of the front header in a region of the first edge, adjoins the side roof rail in a region of the second edge, and extends along at least a portion of the elongated member of the pillar support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John T Reed, Matt Edward Maser, Paul Elia, Peter Ellis Hackett
  • Patent number: 6578908
    Abstract: A supporting structure of a unitized body includes at least one hollow support that is made up of two longitudinal segments, the longitudinal segments being joined to each other in the area of a joining plane extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow support, the end areas of the longitudinal segments being joined to each other so as to overlap. The end areas of the longitudinal segments, which overlap each other, extend diagonally with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow support in the joining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Robert Mayrhofer, Ralf Mehrholz
  • Patent number: 6554341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fender panel impact absorption structure having a pedestrian protection function in which an impact absorption unit is installed between a fender panel and the top of an fender shield panel to secure space enough to absorb the impact energy to the maximum level and minimize a pedestrian's injury when the pedestrian is bumped to the fender panel, the structure being constructed by fastening together the end of a bent part of a fender panel positioned under a hood panel and the top of an fender shield panel with at least more than 2 impact absorption units positioned between the lower side of the bent part of the fender panel and the upper side of the fender shield panel along the upper surface of the fender shield panel in a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Wan-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 6547318
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a frame having a front frame and a floor frame joined together by a curved portion provided along a toe board, the front frame extending in a forward direction from the curved portion, the floor frame extending in a rearward direction therefrom; a side structure disposed transversely outwardly of the frame, respectively; and a closed-section torque box for joining the frame to the side structure. The frame and the side structure are joined to an upper surface of the torque box to be substantially horizontally relative to each other, and are also joined to a lower surface of the torque box which is formed in such a manner as to be oriented downwardly toward the side structure, to thereby increase the joint area of the torque box on a side thereof where the torque box is joined to the side structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihide Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6536837
    Abstract: There is provided a cab structure that a joint portion of a cab and a chassis frame has sufficient shear strength and which can disperse external force to the entire cab or chassis frame to reduce the burden of load and can sufficiently resist the impact load in the longitudinal direction. A front end portion of a cab-under-frame fixed to the outer surface of the floor panel is extended toward a front upper side, and a cab mount bracket is also extended toward a front upper side so that they are integrally joined with a front mounting rail. As a result, these three components are firmly fastened to disperse the incoming force in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Youichi Ishida, Masakatsu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20030052515
    Abstract: A floating bracket has a flexible interface between a vehicle body panel and a vehicle. The floating bracket is slidably interfaced with a vehicle body panel. The floating bracket is rigidly fixed to a point on the vehicle. The floating bracket enables expansion or contraction of the vehicle body panel to take place. Accordingly the vehicle body panel may slide with respect to the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle body panel is free to move yet is still fixedly attached to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ian Barnard, Christopher M. Hartwell, James M. Zubkus, Patrick H. Predd, Chao H. Mao
  • Patent number: 6533347
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a front chassis structure for a vehicle that increases the rigidity of lamp support braces, even when welding holes are present. The front chassis structure, which is assembled by joining lamp support braces 1, comprises an inner brace 11 and an outer brace 12, side members 2 having an inner member 21 and an outer member 22, and a lower member 3 having a front member 31 and a back member 31, and wherein holes 11a having flanges are provided to the inner braces 11 of the lamp support braces 1, and the flanges 11c of the inner braces 11 are joined to the outer braces 12 of the lamp support braces 1 and the inner members 21 of the side members 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Michitaka Sanada
  • Patent number: 6533348
    Abstract: A vehicle space frame for constructing a motor vehicle includes a body module and a front module. The body module includes a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending main side rail structures and a pair of rearward-most upright structures each being connected to a respective main side rail structure and extending upwardly therefrom to form a pair of rearward-most pillars thereon. The body module further includes a pair of hydroformed upper longitudinal members each being defined by an outwardly deformed tubular metallic wall fixed in a predetermined irregular exterior surface configuration and each including a pillar-forming portion and a longitudinally extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Cosma International Inc.
    Inventors: Federico G. Jaekel, Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Frank A. Horton
  • Patent number: 6523885
    Abstract: The deformation member (1) is disposed between a longitudinal member (2) and a cross member (3) of a motor vehicle, with the cross member having a horizontal central longitudinal plane which is vertically offset to the horizontal central longitudinal plane of the longitudinal member (2). The deformation member includes an elongate, hollow base body (4) of polygonal cross section and a height which is greater than its width, and an upper and a lower reinforcing shell (14, 19) which are connected through welding to the base body (4) via the longitudinal edges of their legs (13, 18). The end walls of the lower reinforcing shell (19) are closed by cover plates (22, 24). The deformation member (1) can be coupled via a plate (23) with the longitudinal member (2) of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Benteler AG
    Inventors: Achim Kröning, Hui Wang, Dariusz Straznikiewiecz
  • Publication number: 20030015882
    Abstract: A recessed portion is formed partially in an outer panel. The recessed portion has an inner wall which inclines slightly downwardly toward the inside of a body and an inner-most wall extending vertically. A retaining member is mounted on the inner-most wall. Formed on the retaining member is a locking face confronting the inner wall and a raised portion. A flange portion is provided on a bumper face. The flange portion is formed into a tapered configuration in which the thickness thereof decreases as it extends toward a distal end thereof and has a lock hole formed at a position corresponding to the raised portion. The flange portion is held between the locking face and the inner wall and is locked on the locking face by fitting the raised portion in the lock hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Nagae, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tomoshi Uesaki
  • Publication number: 20030011206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to (with reference to FIG. 3) a land vehicle having a pillar (16) which is a structural component of the vehicle and which is secured in position by setting of a root portion of the pillar (16) in resinous material (20) provided in a cavity defined in a pillar support structure (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Alan Rackham
  • Patent number: 6499783
    Abstract: The invention is a utility trailer incorporating a flatbed trailer combined with a detachable stock trailer shell, a removable center divider and a removable fabric roof cover, allowing use of the trailer as an open flat bed, an open stock trailer with one or two stalls, or a covered stock trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Delores J. Husted
  • Patent number: 6478367
    Abstract: A vehicle body reinforcement structure includes a first reinforcement material (21) of hard resin disposed in a center pillar (17), a second reinforcement material (23) of hard resin disposed in a roof side portion (18) and a joint portion (26) formed on the first and second reinforcement materials (21), (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20020163216
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assemblage of two pieces of bodywork (101, 102) each having a flange (107, 114) for coming into contact with the flange of the other piece, the flange of a first piece having a slot while the flange (114) of a second piece carries a tenon (103, 104, 105) presenting an engagement shape and extending towards the first piece. The assemblage also comprises a fastener member (106) for taking up a position against the flange of the first piece and which has an engagement shape complementary to that of the tenon so as to engage therewith. The invention also provides a piece of bodywork belonging to such an assemblage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM
    Inventors: Dominique Delavalle, Francis Cordebar
  • Publication number: 20020158484
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assemblage of two pieces of bodywork (1, 2) each having a flange (5, 6) for pressing against the flange of the other piece. Each flange carries at least one tongue (11, 12) extending towards the other piece. A fastener member (20) is suitable for engaging around the tongues so to prevent them from moving relative to one another once said two pieces of bodywork are in a predetermined position in which they are united flange against flange. The invention also provides the pieces of bodywork constituting said assemblage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM
    Inventors: Dominique Delavalle, Francis Cordebar, Gerald Andre, Claude Jacquemard
  • Publication number: 20020149221
    Abstract: A device is used for holding and mounting a front/rear panel to a side component of a vehicle, for purposes of reinforcing and housing vehicle aggregates in the front/rear panel of a vehicle; in order to allow a simple mounting of the front panel to a side component. The panel is provided with a mounting profile with clamping brackets that can be attached to corresponding clamping elements of a guide rail in the side component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG.
    Inventors: Eberhard Palmer, Thomas Ritz
  • Patent number: 6457768
    Abstract: A vehicle plastic body panel such as a vehicle hardtop is formed with an integral reinforcing component including a structural fiber material molded into the body panel. The reinforcing component provides internal structural support for the use of horizontal plastic body panels such as a roof or a hood panel without the panel sagging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Del C Schroeder, Jeremy A Panasiewicz, David G Speth, Russell C Fielding
  • Patent number: 6454345
    Abstract: In order to increase the robustness and reliability of the vehicle, reduce the time taken to manufacture it, to enable certain stages of such manufacture to be performed by robots, and to be able easily to adapt the appearance of the vehicle on demand, the body is of hybrid structure comprising an aluminum or aluminum alloy “frame assembly”, an aluminum or aluminum alloy “roof assembly”, and two “fitted-out face assemblies” of composite material each fixed both to the frame assembly and to the roof assembly. The invention is particularly suitable for manufacturing cars for trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventor: Emigliano Campus
  • Patent number: 6450564
    Abstract: The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. In some embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. Also, a recessed region is preferably defined at the seam between the two panels. A splicer plate connecting the adjacent panels can be received into this recessed region. In some preferred embodiments, adhesive and/or rivets are employed to further strengthen the sidewall panel joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Stoughton Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Sill
  • Patent number: 6447052
    Abstract: The pillar structure to which the passenger cabin end of the hood ridge panel is connected, is arranged have different localized structural deformation resistances which buckle/deform in a manner which causes the hood ridge panel to reorient in response to a vehicle structure deforming force being applied to the front of the vehicle during a collision, and results in the force, which passes through the hood ridge panel, being redirected by a load-converting and transmitting member included in the pillar, up and along an upper rearwardly angled upper portion of the pillar. This force redirection produces sufficient resistance to induce compressive bucking in the structure forward of the passenger cabin and thus attenuate damage to the cabin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetsugu Saeki
  • Patent number: 6431083
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a rail vehicle with a head module made of a composite fiber material. For this, a joining region with height-tolerance compensating means (5) is arranged on the underframe (3) and a joining edge with longitudinal and lateral tolerance compensating means (7 and 8) is arranged on the wagon body module (2). The head module has joining edges that point toward the wagon body module (2) and the underframe (3) and is provided with reinforced sections (18, 19) that are integrated into the fiber composite material. The head module is attached to the underframe (3) and at least at the head module side walls (14) of the wagon body module (2) by means of fastening means (20, 21), which build up a pre-tensioning force, in such a way that shear-resistant connections are created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Carstensen, Bernd Hoppe, Ursula Wagner, Burkhart Liesenberg, Erwin Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 6428074
    Abstract: A construction is provided for fastening a plurality of members which thermally expand and contract together to a base member with a screw member, in such a manner that those members do not interfere with each other when they thermally expand or contract. An interference that would otherwise be generated between a plurality of members to be fastened together when the respective members thermally expand and contract can be prevented with a simple construction by interposing an interference preventing spacer member between the respective members. The spacer member is positioned in a radial direction relative to a screw portion. With one member, the fastened portion where the members are fastened together functions as a reference point for absorbing the thermal expansion and contraction. With the other member, an elongate hole is used at this fastened portion for absorbing the thermal expansion and contraction. Accordingly, the single fastened portion allows fastening corresponding to the respective members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Sukegawa, Takashi Chirifu
  • Patent number: 6422643
    Abstract: A connection structure is provided for attaching a component (e.g., a front grill or other vehicle component) to a vehicle. The connection structure includes first and second side-by-side prongs or projections which are inserted at least partially into an aperture in a support structure of the vehicle. As the prongs are inserted into the aperture, the prongs are biased in opposite directions until a point in time when the first prong gets far enough into the aperture so that it can latch onto a wall of the aperture. When the first prong latches onto the wall of the aperture in order to prevent the prong (and thus the component) from being pulled out of the aperture, the other or second prong is lodged in the aperture in order to prevent the first prong from being unlatched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Elden Pease
  • Patent number: 6416117
    Abstract: A beam knot forming part of a vehicle body structure and being constructed of three beam elements, each disclosing two side walls that extend with relative intervals and a transverse wall that connects the side walls, is disclosed. The beam elements are rigidly connected with each other in the beam knot and protrude from this in respective directions. One of the beam elements discloses a recess in one side wall thereof, another beam element inserts transversely through the recess with a section and is connected with the opposite side wall. A third beam element is partly situated in the first beam element and is, with its side walls, connected with the side walls of the second beam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB
    Inventor: Martin Weiman
  • Patent number: 6412857
    Abstract: A method of forming this vehicle space frame joint is carried out by (1) forming an elongated first member constructed of a metallic material that includes an end segment having a predetermined length and having an exterior surface that defines an exterior configuration of the end segment; (2) forming an elongated tubular hydroformed second member by hydroforming a tubular blank having a tubular metallic wall so as to outwardly deform the tubular metallic wall into a predetermined exterior surface configuration determined by the engagement of the tubular metallic wall with die surfaces of a die assembly, the hydroformed second member having an intermediate segment that includes first and second spaced apart wall portions; (3) forming generally aligned first and second openings within the first and second wall portions, respectively, of the intermediate segment of the second member, the first and second openings being of complimentary configuration to portions of the exterior surface of the end segment of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Cosma International Inc.
    Inventors: Federico G. Jaekel, Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Frank A. Horton, Richard Ashley
  • Publication number: 20020070572
    Abstract: A joint structure is ideally suited for use in the manufacture of assemblies and subassemblies in aluminum structures. More particularly, the alternative joint structures and methods of forming joint structures facilitate the assembly of a vehicle body-in-white. The friction welded joints of this invention provide assemblies in which lineals and sheet, cast, or extruded components are joined together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Israel Stol, John W. Cobes, Michael Braun, Greg S. White
  • Patent number: 6402220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable enclosure for use in protecting an all-terrain vehicle or another open-topped vehicle against damage and degradation from exposure to the weather. A further use of the portable enclosure of the invention is as a blind for use in hunting. The portable enclosure includes bendable support beams that arch from front to rear mounting brackets attached to the vehicle. The support beams are held parallel to one another by cross braces and a top panel. Additional front, rear, and side panels, each being equipped with a transparent window, are attached to the top panel and each other by Velcro® or zipper fasteners. The support beams and cross braces are segmented to pack into a carrying case along with the folded fabric panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Edmund L. Allen
  • Patent number: 6402226
    Abstract: A cab torsion preventing structure of truck wherein a reinforcing material is installed to form a closed space at a connected area between a wheel housing and a head lamp support panel to increase strength relative to load and torsional moment applied to the wheel housing, and to dispense with thicker wheel housing and head lamp support panel, preventing cracks at the connected area, the structure comprising the reinforcing material, one side of which being combined to an inner surface of the wheel housing and the other side being coupled to the head lamp support panel, thereby forming a closed space at a connected area between the head lamp support panel and the wheel housing for dispersion of load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae-Hong Park
  • Patent number: 6394537
    Abstract: A plastic vehicle body attachment system for a motor vehicle. The attachment system includes a metal support, a plastic panel having an aperture, and a fastener. The fastener is disposed in the aperture and detachably couples the plastic panel to the metal support. The fastener is smaller than the aperture by an amount that varies in relation to the distance between the fastener and a fixed point on the composite panel such that the size of the aperture increases as the distance between the fastener and the fixed point increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Delbert D DeRees
  • Publication number: 20020060474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fender panel impact absorption structure having a walker protection function in which an impact absorption unit is installed between a fender panel and the top of an apron panel to secure space enough to absorb the impact energy to the maximum level and minimize a walker's injury when the walker is bumped to the fender panel, the unit being constructed by fastening together the end of a bent part of a fender panel positioned under a hood panel and the top of an apron panel, the structure having an impact absorption unit whose top and bottom parts are bent toward one direction for being connected and installed between the end of the bent part of the fender panel and the top of the apron panel, the top part being fastened with the end of the bent part of the fender panel and the bottom part being fastened to the apron panel with a fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Ho-Gie Chung
  • Publication number: 20020043814
    Abstract: A beam knot forming part of a vehicle body structure and being constructed of three beam elements, each disclosing two side walls that extend with relative intervals and a transverse wall that connects the side walls, is disclosed. The beam elements are rigidly connected with each other in the beam knot and protrude from this in respective directions. One of the beam elements discloses a recess in one side wall thereof, another beam element inserts transversely through the recess with a section and is connected with the opposite side wall. A third beam element is partly situated in the first beam element and is, with its side walls, connected with the side walls of the second beam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventor: Martin Weiman
  • Patent number: 6364405
    Abstract: A rear end cross member reinforcement structure of automobile constructed to have respective members forming a rear end cross member join together to form a closed cross-sectional shape such that an external force applied from outside can be effectively diffused, and to have a structure at a joined portion between both tip end portions of the rear end cross member and a quarter panel changed to reinforce a structural strength relative to the rear end cross member, such that the rear end cross member can fully withstand an external force when the external force such as torsion or the like is applied thereto, the rear end cross member reinforcement structure of automobile having a rear body including a rear end cross member arranged crosswise of the body and a quarter panel joining both tip end portions of the rear end cross member, wherein each tip end of an upper rear end cross member, a lower rear end cross member and an outer rear end cross member which form the rear end cross member is joined together to f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 6364401
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure for front pillar portion of an automobile has a reinforcement member between a lower end of front pillar portion and a dash panel for increasing the structural strength to the front pillar portion, reducing deformation of the front pillar portion during front and side collision accidents enhancing safety of passengers in the automobile. The reinforcement structure a front portion bent and coupled to form a closed sectional shape with an inner pillar panel, a pillar reinforcement panel, an outer pillar panel and a dash panel which partitions an engine room and the inside of the automobile. The inner pillar panel is joined by one end of the first reinforcing bracket and the dash panel is coupled to one end of a second reinforcing bracket, while the other ends of the first and second reinforcing brackets are so constructed that a closed sectional shape is formed between the inner pillar panel. The two reinforcement brackets are coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6357811
    Abstract: In coupling a part or component of synthetic resin mounted on a vehicle and a threaded member capable of detachably engaging with the part, the part is provided with a retaining portion for retaining at least a portion of the threaded member against rotation relative to each other, and a claw construction means capable of disengageably engaging with the threaded member so as to inhibit the separation of the threaded member from the retaining portion. With this coupling structure, the operation of molding a part of synthetic resin for a vehicle having a threaded member integrally incorporated therein can be carried out easily and a labor-saving is achieved in the operation. Further, the recycling of parts defectively formed or the like can be promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Nakamura, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Koichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6354654
    Abstract: Reinforcement (30) for reinforcing a vehicle frame structure (10), having a triangular shape in cross section, including one section (20) in parallel to a side frame member (11), and the other section (21) being attached to a lower section of the side frame member (11). The present invention prevents interference with pipes passing in a lateral direction of the vehicle frame (10) and the exhaust system components. Further, the reinforcement (30) of the invention has a large section modulus, thereby effectively reinforcing the vehicle frame (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Hack Lee
  • Patent number: 6346684
    Abstract: A welding material assembly is constructed and arranged to position a welding material in electrically conductive relation between exterior surface portions of first and second weldable members at a location where the first and second weldable members are to be joined. The welding material assembly includes at least one welding material member mounted on a flexible carrier sheet in a predetermined arrangement, each welding material member being constructed of an electrically conductive metallic welding material capable of melting when heated by application of an electrical current and each carrier sheet being constructed of a material that is electrically nonconductive. Each welding material member is mounted on the sheet such that when the sheet is placed between the exterior surfaces of said first and second weldable members to be welded each said welding material member is electrically conductively disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Cosma International Inc.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Ralph Miller
  • Patent number: 6338525
    Abstract: A multisectional sectional front section of a motor vehicle shell body is provided. At least two neighboring parts of the front section extended in a vehicle horizontal direction are attached to one other by connecting flanges which can especially be shifted perpendicularly to a longitude axis of the vehicle to accommodate tolerance differences in the spacing between the lateral sides of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Benz, Oliver Zolke
  • Patent number: 6334642
    Abstract: A linear cold connection with connecting places contains a first and a second structural component to join first and second construction elements of a frame for road or rail bound vehicles. First construction elements are attached to the first structural component and second construction elements are attached to the second structural component. The first and second structural components are joined together via a pair of first and second joint faces. The joint faces form a length of arc of a circular cylinder with a common circular-cylinder axis. The first structural element is joined to the second structural element via a bolt-type connection penetrating openings in the first and second joint faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Waldeck, Samuel Streiff
  • Patent number: 6328377
    Abstract: An intermediate joint is provided which joints two cylindrical members to form a side member used in a vehicle body. The intermediate joint includes a front and a rear connecting portion and an intermediate coupling portion coupling the front and rear connecting portions. The intermediate coupling portion is so formed physically as to have a degree of rigidity greater than those of the front and rear connecting portions. This improves the strength or rigidity of the intermediate joint without increasing the overall weight of the side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Makita, Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 6324996
    Abstract: A structural assembly defining a corner of a doorway for a railway boxcar in which a square-cornered doorway opening is provided and yet stress concentrations are avoided. A corner connecting member interconnects upright and horizontal doorway frame structures, but instead of including an angular intersection of vertical and horizontal surfaces defining the doorway opening, the corner member includes an arcuate concave connecting surface extending between the upright and horizontal surfaces defining the doorway opening. The arcuate concave connecting surface is located outside the doorway opening and extends around the location where the vertical and horizontal surfaces would intersect, so that there is no angular intersection to concentrate stresses. An insert fits matingly along the arcuate concave connecting surface and has an inside corner defined by surfaces that are located to extend the vertical and horizontal surfaces and define the corner of the doorway opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Gunderson, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Saxton, Andrew A. Baker
  • Publication number: 20010042986
    Abstract: A fluid formed node is provided to connect structure in an automotive vehicle. Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of forming a structural interconnection including the steps of placing a first member, having an internal cavity in a die pressurizing the internal cavity to form a node integral with and protruding from the first member, disposing the node within an aperture of a second member, and coupling the second member to the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: ASC Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Patelczyk
  • Patent number: 6305866
    Abstract: A friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in a joining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Masakuni Ezumi, Yasuo Ishimaru, Hisanori Okamura, Isao Funyuu, Akihiro Satou
  • Patent number: 6302478
    Abstract: A space frame for a motor vehicle is provided to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The space frame includes a pair of upper longitudinal members. Each of the upper longitudinal members has a pillar forming portion and a first portion coupled to the pillar forming portion. The space frame also includes a cross member having a second portion and a pair of leg portions extending from junctures at each end of the second portion. The space frame additionally includes a pair of laterally spaced side rail structures, which are assembled such that the pillar forming portion of each upper longitudinal member is connected to and forms a pillar on a respective side rail structure. The leg portions of the cross member are each connected to a respective side rail structure and extend upwardly therefrom. The second portion of the cross member connects the pair of side rail structures in laterally spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Cosma International Inc.
    Inventors: Federico G. Jaekel, Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Frank A. Horton, Richard Ashley
  • Patent number: 6296300
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure provides an increased engine room collapsing stroke to increase energy absorption during a frontal or rear end collision. Force applied to side members is transmitted efficiently to a floor structure by controlled deformation of first, second and third structural portions of a impact redirecting and impact redirecting structure which interconnects the floor and the side members. Occurrence of bending deformation of the inboard end portions of the side members is attenuated to subject the front side member to collapsible compression which increases the engine room collapsible stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Sato
  • Patent number: 6293617
    Abstract: An extruded material frame connection structure for a vehicle, which is constituted by a frame assembly and a reinforcing cover. The frame assembly includes a first extruded member and a second extruded member which are assembled in a state where the first and second extruded members intersect each other and which are welded to each other at an assembled portion thereof so as to be integrated with each other. The reinforcing member is formed to have a size so that the reinforcing member covers the assembled portion between the first and second extruded members and extends to cover portions of the first and second extruded members, the reinforcing member being assembled to the frame assembly and welded to each of the first and second extruded members. With the configuration, it is possible to obtain a frame connection structure in which not only a necessary strength can be secured but also thermal distortion can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Sukegawa
  • Publication number: 20010019216
    Abstract: An improvement on a vehicle floor structure is provided which includes joint members each of which has a closed hollow structure and joins a rear extension of one of side sills, one end of a rear seat cross member, and a front end of one of rear side members. Each of the joint members is installed between one end of the rear seat cross member and one of the side sills and has a lower-rigidity region formed adjacent the end of the rear seat cross member for facilitating ease of a lateral collapse of a vehicle body in the lower-rigidity region upon occurrence of a side collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6283541
    Abstract: A rear roof rail reinforcement structure for automobile wherein a passage between an inner side panel at a corner side of the tailgate and an outer side panel is blocked to provide a reinforcing force, such that, in case an automobile is parked on a block of a footpath with only one wheel, a torsional stress is not applied to the tailgate to thereby facilite opening and closing of tailgate, and vibration generated from a running automobile is blocked by the passage to prevent in advance the noisy sound resounding phenomenon from being transmitted to a pillar panel, the rear roof rail reinforcement structure for automobile, the rear roof rail for automobile where an inner side panel and an outer side panel are detachably formed at a predetermined space therebetween, a rear roof lower rail is overlapped by and welded to the inner side panel and the outer side panel is overlapped by and welded to a rear roof upper rail and a roof panel, wherein the rear roof lower rail is bent at a tip end thereof and welded to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung-Jin Kim